In this episode we have Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn, a Behavioral Scientist who worked as a family nurse practitioner for over 25 years joining us. On July 20, 1990, Dr. Joyce experienced a sudden cardiac event in a swimming pool following an adult relay race. Her heart had stopped. After getting rescued at the bottom of the pool, she received 22 minutes of CPR & was airlifted to UC Davis Hospital where she was admitted into the ICU & put on a respirator. Over the months and years that followed, Dr. Joyce suffered from aphasia and cognitive delays due to an injured temporal lobe. She required speech therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and suffered with anxiety and depression as she fought to regain brain function. This single event launched Dr. Joyce onto a path of discovery where she learned of a concept referred to as Posttraumatic Growth, or PTG.

Dr. Joyce went on to earn her Master's degree in Nursing and her Doctorate in Education. After becoming discouraged with the current rehabilitation models, Dr. Joyce focused her Doctoral research on developing and organizing a new model called Metahabilitation, a philosophy and system of recovery and rehabilitation promoting posttraumatic growth (PTG). Her ongoing research and writing focuses on recovery, survivorship and posttraumatic growth, promoting Metahabilitation in clinical areas. Today Dr. Joyce is a Professor of a Traumatology course at Cal State University Sacramento. She is the author of multiple publications & lectures all over the world to help survivors of trauma apply Metahabilitation in a variety of recovery and rehabilitation settings.

In this episode we're talking about what we get wrong when we are dealing with trauma, why the antidote to despair is action, and the importance of believing another story about ourselves, to find a way - not just out of our trauma - but up!

You can find Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn online HERE

Find out more info & register for Women's Wellness Day on September 7th HERE

Order Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn's book, Anatomy of a Survivor HERE

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Find us on TikTok!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE 01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

In this episode Dr. Catherine Schweikert, author of the book The Compassion Remedy, joins us to discuss the work she is doing within the medical field to integrate compassion into healthcare practices.

Catherine describes the current state of our healthcare model and tells us why the absence of compassion is causing both patients and physicians to suffer unnecessarily.

We talk about the multiple benefits, common fears, and proven science demonstrating the positive impact that compassion has on our health and overall wellbeing.

Catherine illustrates the difference between empathy and compassion & why self-compassion is necessary in order to be of true service to others. She dispels myths surrounding the term "compassion fatigue" and why these misconceptions exist. We explore the reason people "need to be needed" and how sacrificing oneself in the process of helping another is not a compassionate action.

As we wrap up Catherine shares info about the documentary she is working on: Compassion Heals. You. Me. The World. To find out more information about this project or to get involved, please email: [email protected]

For more information about Dr. Catherine Schweikert & the work she is doing, you can find her her online at https://catherineschweikert.com/

Purchase Catherine's BOOK, The Compassion Remedy: https://www.worldchangers.media/catherine-schweikert-the-compassion-remedy

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Find us on TikTok!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE 01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

Today Dayna Summers joins me to talk about the pros and cons of her experience with 3 different GLP-1 agonists (Semaglutide, Ozempic, and Mounjaro) and what led to her choice to begin taking them.

After a complicated upbringing, Dayna went on to become a marathon runner, triathlete, and bodybuilder. She built her Real Estate brokerage from the ground up & is now among the top 1% of realtors, nationwide. While at the top of her game in 2017, complications in her personal life lead to an onslaught of stress, weight gain, and a devastating diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

A lot of us have heard the buzz surrounding these weight loss prescriptions, and most of us know at least one person who is taking them. Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Semaglutide are names that, by now, many of us are familiar with. The reaction from the public regarding these medications is pretty split, depending on who you ask. Some will suggest that those who decide to go the route of weight loss prescriptions are taking the easy way out. They are accused of being lazy, lacking discipline & will power.

As with most polarizing topics, there are two sides to consider before rushing to judgment and I think Dayna's story will help us understand things a bit differently.

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Find us on TikTok!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE 01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

On June 28, 2024 I said goodbye to my beloved Tucker. I have been unable to speak about this for the last few weeks. I told very few people. I had a hard time saying (and even texting the words), that Tucker, my sweet and faithful Soul Dog of 10 years, had gone to heaven to be with Bubba.

I knew I would experience intense grief after his passing, this is something I expected, especially after what I went through losing Bubba. But the gaping whole in my heart & profound emptiness I have had to endure day after day after losing him...this is something nobody could have prepared me for.

In this episode I talk about the last few weeks of Tucker's life. I describe the arduous task of weighing out every option that was presented by his vet, and share the recurring thoughts and feelings that lead me to make this impossible decision.

Tucker has been my trusty companion for the last 10 years. I adopted him at a time when I was very sick with Lyme disease and in many ways, he saved my life. I wanted to honor him by talking about his life, including the day of his adoption & why we chose Tucker among all of the available dogs. He was the definition of a Soul Dog, in every sense of that term.

Watch this episode on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Find us on TikTok!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

WELCOME TO SEASON 4!! Today we have licensed marriage and family therapist, Kateri Ross, joining me to kick off the season with an episode about Confidence vs. Insecurity. We are using the subject of confidence as an umbrella topic because beneath that umbrella lies some key behavioral characteristics that often determine if we are, in fact, confident...or if we're actually insecure!

Some of those characteristics include:

Judgment, Vulnerability, Arrogance, Humility, Over Sharing on Social Media, Self Awareness, Negative Thinking, Apologizing, Perfectionism, Hyper-Sexuality

In this episode we will talk about each of these characteristics & discuss whether we think the presence or absence of each one is a sign of confidence or insecurity.

If you live locally and want to get in touch with Kateri, you can find her online at https://www.thinkwell.health/

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Find us on TikTok!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE 01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

Today I am sitting down with Rana Alkhalil. Rana is a 46 year old married mother of two teenagers. She was born and raised in Dubai, attended college in Lebanon where she received her degrees in Advertising and Communications. Rana is fluent in 3 languages: English, French, and Arabic and at the age of 23 she moved to the US, where she later started her family. For many of us, putting time and effort into our appearance can feel stressful and it can feel like a lot of work. But for Rana this is more than superficiality, which is an assumption I think a lot of people might make. Rana believes the practice of putting herself together each day when she leaves the house is in preparation to face the world as the best version of herself. Rana grew up around fashion with parents who worked in the industry and when she moved to the US she was taken aback by the lackadaisical approach that Americans take towards their appearance. Many of us view this as "normal" but where she is from, the lack of effort toward image is incredibly abnormal. Which I believe makes for a very fun and interesting conversation. We are all very familiar with getting judged & insulted for having a poor image. But interestingly enough, being "too much" can also make us a target for insults like "She's just trying to get attention" or "She needs to tone it down". Rana is here to talk about all of this & more! Her resounding message throughout this episode is: "Look Good. Feel Good. Do Good!" Follow Rana @luxurydealandsteal3 on Instagram!

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE 01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

Ditch any assumptions you may have had of our disabled population, because what you're about to hear will change everything!

Today I am sitting down with Alycia Anderson. Alycia is a disability advocate, nationally sought after DEI speaker, trainer, and motivational TEDx speaker. She is the head of The Alycia Anderson Company and she is the host of the podcast Pushing Forward with Alycia. Every episode of her podcast is a story of empowerment, resilience, and breaking barriers. It's everything she is known for & more... (and truthfully, that's putting it modestly).

Alycia has been featured in countless magazine articles, on news shows, and speaks to communities, companies, and various organizations across the nation about the benefits, principals, and practices of accessibility & inclusion.

Alycia is a tennis player, a cyclist, & an identical twin who has been a wheelchair user since birth. She has a remarkable story and an empowering message for all of us, which is to "believe in the things we've never seen before".

You can find Alycia online!

Subscribe to Pushing Forward with Alycia on Apple Podcasts!

Follow Alycia on Instagram!

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**We are located in Sacramento, CA. All episodes record in person** **Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE 01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

Today we are discussing the topic of postpartum depression. My guest, Katie, did all she could to ensure a healthy happy arrival for her first born baby. She was married in 2011 and became a homeowner 4-5 years prior to starting her family. Katie experienced a normal healthy pregnancy. She created a birthing plan that included a natural childbirth and attended classes during pregnancy to prepare for motherhood. With all of the education, the planning, and the preparation, the topic of postpartum depression was never addressed by her clinicians or her course instructors.

Looking back on her experience we discuss what a disservice this is to new moms everywhere who despite their best efforts, are unwarned and uneducated about how to navigate postpartum depression and the darkness that can show up when we least expect it.

Katie joins me to share her story in an effort to help others understand the realities of postpartum depression, and she gives encouragement to anyone who is in the trenches, as well as practical advice for how to overcome it.

Check out these online resources mentioned in today's episode:

https://www.postpartum.net/

https://fit4mom.com/workout-classes/stroller-strides

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**We are located in Sacramento, CA. All episodes record in person** **Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE#01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

My guest today is Boomer Bennett. Boomer is an ex-gang member with a compelling redemption story. Today Boomer is a proud husband and father of five. He's a Public Speaker, a Coach, a Pastor, and a Leadership Development Expert for youth and young adults. This is who he is today, but that is not how his story begins.

When Boomer was just 11 years old, he was recruited into a well known infamous gang, called the Crips and was in and out of detention centers and prison for the 20 years that followed. He shares his story in great detail. How it all began, the mindset he had, and the innerworkings of the lifestyle he was apart of. As a high ranking gang member, Boomer admits he was a menace to society, up until age 24 when his life was forever changed.

In this episode Boomer shares his story and explains why young boys become attracted to gangs and a lifestyle of committing crimes. We explore the effects of fatherlessness and how the absence of a positive male role model can result in an increase risk to the choices our children make.

Follow Boomer Bennett on Instagram

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow Humanity Unlocked Podcast on Instagram!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**We are located in Sacramento, CA. All episodes record in person**

Have a topic in mind that you'd like for us to discuss? Wanna co-host an episode with me? Send me an email: [email protected]

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE#01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.com/

When most of us think of issues that are stigmatized, weight loss doesn't generally come to mind. Ambition doesn't either. But the truth is, the decision to pursue a career calling and the choice to get into the best shape of your life as you approach 40...this will put you in a staggering minority of individuals who have dared to ramp up at an age when most of us are slowing down, and -dare I say- letting ourselves go.

My guest, Jessica Barrie, is a 43 year old wife and a mother of three, with twin 16 year old daughters and an 8 year old son. For years she's worked as a part time photographer & stay at home. In this episode Jessica shares how the onset of minor health condition lead to her decision to make some minor incremental changes, after years of feeling "frumpy, dumpy, and grumpy" (her words!). She shares how these changes gradually lead to even bigger, braver, and better ones that paved the way to the path she's on now.

The fact is, when we choose to better ourselves and our circumstances and we share it on social media, especially later in life, there will always be naysayers. The "who does she think she is" crowd will watch from a distance, judging the person who dares to go against the grain to better their life. These people exist. They are alive and well, but they are not thriving and it upsets them when you are.

This was not Jessica's direct experience per se, but we are both keenly aware that this is oftentimes the reason more women our age will choose not to go against the grain, because "what will people say about me". In this episode we talk about the choice to go against the grain at 40 and the different ways people react to a later in life transformation, and why that is.

Follow Jessica's fitness journey on Instagram

Watch & Subscribe to our show on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram!

Visit our website and send us an inquiry if you'd like info about becoming a guest.

**We are located in Sacramento, CA. All episodes record in person**

Have a topic in mind that you'd like for us to discuss? Wanna co-host an episode with me? Send me an email: [email protected]

**Sponsored by Mark Daya: Owner & Founder of Sac Platinum Realty** DRE#01463125 https://www.sacplatinumrealty.net/